The term “South-West Estonian anarchism“ is not an official term, it was coined by art historian and curator Eha Komissarov in a rather random situation. However, it is perfectly suited to characterize the Pärnu School, being logical in essence and intriguing as a brand. South-West Estonia is exactly where Pärnu, known as a resort town, is located on the map of Estonia. Anarchism does not refer to a political position here. Rather, this definition refers to the Pärnu School operating outside the hierarchies and established traditions of the art world.
When evaluating the visual aspects, there may not always be similarities between the artists of the South-West Estonian anarchist School, but they are essentially united by their performativity – their work is seen as a process rather than a diligent striving towards a goal. Performance is also often a basis for artworks, in painting, graphics, sculpture, installation, photography, and of course, video.
The exhibition consists of nearly 100 photo documentaries and 50 video documentaries. The Tartu Art House exhibition will also include a selection of physical art objects from participating artists. In various combinations, the exhibition has previously been shown at the Pispala Centre of Contemporary Art in Finland (2019), the Batumi Gallery of Contemporary Art in Georgia (2016), the Kaliningrad Centre for Contemporary Art (2016) and the Diaghilev Museum of Contemporary Art in St Petersburg, Russia (2014).
Participating in the exhibition with documentation of their works will be Billeneeve, Ville-Karel Viirelaid, Andrus Joonas, Tanel Saar, Siram, Sorge, Rauno Teider, Janno Bergmann, Cnopt, Art Container, Rubens, Circus Art Theatre “Giraffe with the Flaming Neck”.
Näituse kuraator on Janno Bergmann.
The exhibition is supported by the Tartu 2024, Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the city of Pärnu.
Art project “Pärnu-Tartu Art Express” is part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 additional programme.
